Shuba: ‘I Love Singing Catchy Melodies That Make People Feel Bold, Empowered and Free’

Growing up in the U.S., Indo-American singer Shuba was exposed to all kinds of music thanks to her parents. From Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain to A.R. Rahman and Eminem as well as classic rock and mainstream pop, Shuba heard it all. “My dad was the main person who encouraged us to sing. He saw potential in me and my sister to perform on stage and used every opportunity to have us sing at least one song in front of an audience,” she says.

We caught up with the singer to talk about her new release Hot Girls, what the songs on the record mean to her, where she’s taking her sound in the future and more. Read below.

When did work on your latest offering “Hot Girls” begin?

I started “Hot Girls” in late 2022 after going through a breakup that really opened my eyes to how narrow-mindedly I was approaching relationships. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn about setting higher standards for myself but I think I needed to understand what sorts of traps I shouldn’t fall into if I actually want something meaningful with someone in the future.

As part of the record for Hot Girls, you’ve released the title track, “Bad Date,” “Come Here” and have one more song as part of this project. What can you tell me about the tracks and what they mean to you?

I’ll be honest, there is no direct or profound connection between the songs. I’m not really someone who writes in terms of a singular event. It’s more so that I go through different seasons of my life where certain experiences happen to and for me. This particular season is me saying hi to the world with a cohesive sound. I make music that becomes the soundtrack to my life, and three of the songs represent my anxious attachment towards a relationship but unwillingness to get out, my feelings of pettiness after it ended, and my moments of growth and realization after it.

The fourth song is just a bop. It’s this anthemic and loud ode to my parents as well as all the other people who believe in the American Dream and in their own individuality. It’s a reclaiming song and it has a big message that has a lot to do with feeling out of place growing up but realizing that the tables turn.

What’s next?

I genuinely love my music and the sound I’m crafting. It’s classic pop and some rap mixed with a hint of Bollywood flair. I love the percussion my producer HOMI uses, which is also very Timbaland-inspired. I love throwing in simple ragas and taking people out of the standard pop vocal sound. Most importantly, I just love listening to and singing catchy melodies that make people feel bold, empowered, and free.

Stream ‘Hot Girls’ below: